The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2281) Sergeant William Henry Gladstone Robertson, 60th Battalion, AIF, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Dennis Stockman, the story for this day was on (2281) Sergeant William Henry Gladstone Robertson, 60th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

2281 Sergeant William Henry Gladstone Robertson, 60th Battalion, AIF
DOW 3 October 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 4 July 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant William Henry Gladstone Robertson.

Gladstone Robertson – known as “Gladdie” – was born in Campbells Creek, Victoria, in 1887. He was the fourth son of Robert and Mary Robertson. His father was a well-known evangelist who for years had conducted Christian mission meetings as far afield as Rockhampton and Wollongong. Soon after Gladdie’s birth the family moved to Geelong, where he attended the local state school. Unlike a number of his brothers, who became ministers of the faith, Robertson became a horticulturalist, and moved to live in the Pomborneit district of Victoria. In 1913 he married Alice Horlock, and they went on to have two sons.

Robertson struggled with the decision to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force and leave behind his young family to fight the war. In the end he decided that it was his duty to go and fight for what he considered was right, and so he enlisted on 17 January 1916.

Robertson showed promise as a soldier shortly after enlistment, and was selected to attend Duntroon Military College. He obtained a pass certificate fourth class in April 1916. On 1 July 1916 he was posted to the 60th Battalion, and after a further period of training he was sent overseas for active service with the AIF. He completed further studies in England before being sent to France, joining his battalion there in March 1917.

Shortly after his arrival, the 60th Battalion became involved in defending gains made during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Robertson again proved to be a very capable soldier, and was Mentioned in Despatches following the Second Battle of Bullecourt.

In September 1917 the 60th Battalion participated in the battle of Polygon Wood. This attack was scheduled to begin on 26 September, but was almost derailed by a German attack just to the south of the Australian positions. The 60th Battalion came under heavy artillery fire. Sergeant Robertson did not take cover during the bombardment, but instead “went about cheering the men up and organising the company”. He “showed great initiative in leading the men forward to meet the enemy and continued to do so until he was wounded”. For his work on 26 and 27 September he was awarded the Military Medal.

The medal was awarded posthumously. He had been wounded in the hand on the 27th and ordered back to a dressing station. He went reluctantly, and returned to the front lines as soon as possible. On his way back he was struck by fragments of an artillery shell. He did not reach the base hospital for another two days, by which time gas gangrene had set in, and he died of his wounds on 3 October.

General Birdwood wrote to Robertson’s family in Australia, saying:

All those who were with him cannot speak too highly of his fine soldierly qualities he displayed … and I was so glad to have the opportunity of awarding him the Military Medal which he so thoroughly deserved for his good and gallant work. You may well be proud of your boy.

Sergeant Robertson was buried in the Étaples Military Cemetery, France. He was 29 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 Australians who died during the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant William Henry Gladstone Robertson, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section

Sources:
www.ancestry.com

National Archives of Australia, service record, William Henry Gladstone Robertson.

“Death of Sergt. Robertson”, Geelong Advertiser, 13 October 1917, p. 4.

“Killed in action: Late Sergeant W.H. G. Robertson”, Camperdown Chronicle, 30 May 1918, p. 4.

“Late Sergeant W.H.G. Robertson”, Camperdown Chronicle, 16 October 1917, p. 2.

“Mr Robertson’s Mission”, Morning Bulletin, 27 July 1901, p. 5.

“Mr Evangelist Robertson”, Illawarra Mercury, 8 April 1903, p. 2.

Medal citation: http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1068236--11-.pdf.